My favorite dish is a chicken biriyani. In a hypothetical world, one where I knew how to cook, imagine I invited my friends over for a meal and the meal in question was biriyani. Since we are assuming things, let's also assume that there was no such thing as the internet or cook books to look up recipes. How should I go about recreating my favorite dish?
At this point, some of you may resort to first principles thinking i.e. go down to the root of the problem, break down things to its building blocks. When you do this, it becomes apparent that any dish is just an amalgamation of the core elements of taste. A mix of sweet, spicy, bitter, sour, salt, and texture - these are the tastes we know and register. End of hypothetical scenario.
When we take a similar approach to Public Speaking, a similar set of core elements emerge. They form an easy-to-remember 6-letter acronym - PVLEGS. I wish it formed a meaningful word, but I'm not about to complain. Each letter stands for a timeless, profound public speaking tool, that when used in the right dose, packs a strong punch. Let's visit each letter in sequence:
P - Poise
This is all about staying calm, cool, and collected when you're up in front of people. Think of it as projecting confidence, even if you’re feeling a bit nervous inside. When you’re poised, your audience feels like they’re in good hands.
Remember that a big chunk of our communication is non-verbal. Some estimates say that non-verbal communication makes up almost 75% of our perceived presence, so this first element is crucial, to say the least.
V - Voice
Your voice is your main tool for getting your message across. How you use it - your tone, how loud you speak, and how clearly you pronounce your words can make a huge difference. A well-controlled voice grabs attention and helps your audience stay tuned in.
L - Life
This is where your energy and enthusiasm come into play. When you bring your personality and passion to the stage, it shows.
It’s the spark that makes your talk engaging and helps your audience connect with what you’re saying.
E - Eye Contact
Making eye contact is like having a mini-conversation with each person in the room. It shows you’re talking to them, not at them. Plus, it helps you gauge how they’re reacting, so you can adjust on the fly.
G - Gestures
Your hands and body can do a lot of talking, too! Gestures help you emphasize your points and make your message more relatable. They’re like visual aids that help your audience follow along with what you’re saying.
S - Silence
My favorite. Don’t be afraid of a little awkward silence. It's only awkward if you think it is. Pausing now and then gives your audience a chance to digest what you’ve just said. It can also add a bit of drama or emphasis to your key points. Plus, it’s a great way to keep yourself centered.
When you mix these six ingredients in the right proportions, you’ll have yourself a talk that is as delicious and mouth-watering as a biriyani (not one that I made though). Consciously try to employ these 6 tools in your next presentation, and you will be well on your way to delivering a talk that’s not just good, but truly memorable.
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